PM Modi Announces Rs 80,000 Crore Package For Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced a Rs 80,000 crore package for Jammu and Kashmir and said it should be used to transform the state, devastated by floods last year, into a modern, progressive and prosperous one.  

There would be no dearth of money for the state's development, the Prime Minister promised, saying, "This Rs 80,000 crore is not a full stop. It's only the beginning...Not only is Delhi's treasury for you but so is its heart."

The several thousand people at the Sher-i-Kashmir cricket stadium, where he was making his address, broke into applause as PM Modi made his announcement.

But Opposition leader and chief minister till last year Omar Abdullah was less enthused. "PM Modi has made the same mistake of weighing the Kashmir issue in rupees and paise," Mr Abdullah tweeted. Later at a press conference, he said the PM's speech was a "big disappointment."

PM Modi's BJP partners the People's Democratic Party or PDP in governing Jammu and Kashmir. In elections held late last year, the PDP won the most seats but failed to get a majority in the state assembly. The BJP came in at number 2, while Mr Abdullah's National Conference trailed at third place.

After weeks of negotiations the PDP and BJP, ideological opposites, came together in an unlikely alliance.

Today in Srinagar, the PM said India was "incomplete without Kashmiriyat," invoking the words of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee also of the BJP, who had talked about "Kashmiriyat, Jamhooriyat aur Insaniyat' (social consciousness and cultural values of the Kashmiri people, democracy, and humanity)."

The PM said he would follow those three mantras and saluted the people of Kashmir for strengthening Mr Vajpayee's dream for the state.

"The biggest task at hand here is to find work for the youth of Kashmir and Ladakh ... our youth should get the cheapest and the best education, and of global standards," he said, promising to create jobs for Kashmiri youth by improving education and promoting industries, including tourism and cashmere wool.

In his 40-minute speech, PM Modi highlighted progress, promising improved road and rail networks, as well as AIIMS, IITs and IIMs.

Today's visit is PM Modi's first this year to the state. Hours before his rally, police detained an independent lawmaker, Engineer Rashid, for protesting with black flags and balloons. Security forces had on Friday detained nearly 300 separatists to prevent them from holding an anti-government protest march during PM Modi's day-long visit.
 Security was tight with paramilitary forces and sharpshooters deployed, while schools and colleges were shut. Internet services were suspended hours before PM Modi arrived.